Richard Leslie Pennington
Lieutenant Richard Leslie Pennington, Royal Navy (17 December, 1883 – 20 July, 1907) was an officer in the Royal Navy.
Life & Career
Born in [illeg], India.
On 23 January, 1904 he was found to be suffering from inflammation of his wrist and was sent to Haslar Hospital. Incredibly, given the short description of his malady, it took until October for a resolution, and this, too was surprising – he was found unfit for active service and his name removed from the Navy List on 25 October, 1904.
In March of the following year, he was to be re-surveyed to see if he might re-enter. Initially deemed unfit, in June he was found to be regaining some strength in his right hand. A notation, which must be quoting a medical opinion, declares, "I do not see why the diseadse should ever return." Following a recommendation that he should be re-instated "as a special case", this was in fact done on 20 June, 1905. His promotion to Lieutenant was calculated by his original seniority, being effective in February 1905.
Pennington entered college on 5 September, 1905. In February 1906 he gained his watchkeeping certificate and his name was placed on the list of those to qualify in navigation in August. He passed for navigation duties for all but first-class ships on 8 March, 1907.
Pennington was appointed to Albemarle on 1 April, 1907 as assistant navigator.
Pennington shot himself with a revolver on 20 July, 1907. He was buried two days later, and an inquest on that day deemed his death a "suicide during temporary insanity."
See Also
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